Dr. William Frank Key, Jr.

Bill Key, 89, of Clifton, Texas, passed away Monday, September 5. A funeral service will be held on Friday, September 9, at 2 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in Clifton with the Reverend Clint Schofield officiating. Burial will follow at Clifton Memorial Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 - 7 p.m. on Thursday, September 8, at Clifton Funeral Home.

Born May 4, 1927 in Fort Worth,Texas, Bill was the son of Dr. William Frank Key, Sr. and Lena Mae Estill. He graduated from Paschal High School in 1944. Following high school graduation, he entered the U. S. Army and was honorably discharged in 1947. He graduated from Texas Christian University with a B. A. in biology in 1949. He attended medical school at The University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, graduating in 1953.

In Fort Worth he met and married Alma Caroline Geren in 1955. They moved to Mason, Texas, where Bill practiced medicine and Alma taught high school English. In 1956 the couple moved to Clifton, where Dr. Key joined Goodall-Witcher Hospital and Clinic. Bill and Alma raised their family in Clifton and became very active in their community.

Bill was an avid outdoorsman, enjoying hunting (especially quail), fishing, training bird dogs and gardening. He participated in several social and civic organizations. He was a charter member of the Clifton Gun Club, a Master Mason of 50+ years, long-time Lions Club member, president of the Clifton ISD School Board, and involved in the Bosque Museum, Bosque Arts Center, and First Presbyterian Church. He also enjoyed furniture refurbishing and collecting antiques and western art. He tried his hand at many things, even attaining a private pilot's license, though he discovered it was not his passion. Bill and Alma were recipients of the 1999 Bosque Memorial Museum Heritage Award for outstanding community service and the 2006 Clifton Chamber of Commerce Lifetime Achievement Award.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents, brother Robert Estill Key, and wife of 60 years, Alma.

He is lovingly remembered by his children Emily Key Pickell and husband Stuart of Fort Worth and William Frank Key III and wife Paige of Clifton, grandsons Jonathan and Will Pickell, sister-in-law Pat Key of Fort Worth, and nieces, nephews, and friends too numerous to name.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Goodall-Witcher Healthcare Foundation Hospital Bed Campaign, Bosque Museum, or First Presbyterian Church of Clifton.